In the reprehensible absence of research on gun violence in the US at the federal level, due to a law passed by Congress in 1993, several states are now banding together to conduct this vital research on their own.
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Delaware and Puerto Rico have formed a consortium called “States for Gun Safety.” A first in the nation, this consortium, formed in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting on Valentine’s day (and now in the wake of the massacre at a school in Santa Fe, Texas), will gather “a group of experts and researchers who will collect data and provide analysis to policymakers.” The consortium will further collect data that has also been gleaned from institutional, federal, and multistate sources.
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy stated at the end of April, “By working together with like-minded states, we can take strides toward understanding the root causes of violence and determine the most effective prevention strategies.” Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey noted that approximately 80 percent of gun-related crimes committed in his state are committed with firearms that have crossed state lines. Gov. John Carney of Delaware expressed hope for what the consortium can accomplish: “Better information will help us enforce laws already on the books, intercept the flow of illegal weapons across state borders, and take additional action that will make a real difference.”
For additional blog posts on gun violence, initiatives being taken against it, how the US compares to our sister advanced democracies when it comes to gun violence, and so on, see the following:
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Making a Profit, and Contributing to the Common Good
Gun Laws in Vermont: Actions Taken in the 2018 Legislative Session
Statement by Bishops United Against Gun Violence
Observations on Old TV Shows
Fear, Toxicity and Truth-Telling: Three Short Reports from the Christian Century
Making Millions Off Others’ Suffering 1: The Way Things Are
It’s Well Past Time: The Imperative Need to Address Gun Violence